Fairfax Carries Puller To Victory

If Fairfax County voters didn't have a say in the senate race between incumbent Toddy Puller and challenger Jeff Frederick, the district would have a new leader.

But thanks to Fairfax County's 3-1 edge for Puller, she overpowered the GOP's Frederick with 15,558 votes to Frederick's 12,531.

The 15,370 Prince William County voters who cast a ballot Tuesday night gave Frederick a slight edge, with 50.66 percent of the votes. Puller received 49.11 percent of the votes. Puller also lost in Stafford County, which often leans to the right on Election Day.

Puller ran unopposed in 2007, when 20.83 percent of voters cast a ballot. On Tuesday night, voter turnout reached 25 percent, with 28,131 of the 112,481 registered voters hitting the polls.

The loss for Frederick, who is a former state delegate, was enough to bring him to tears after putting in a solid effort at challenging the popular incumbent. Frederick tried to convince voters that career politicians get lazy in office. Puller was elected senator in 1999. But his message didn't appeal to voters in Fairfax County.